2012 Sets a New Record for Hunting Safety in New York

Continued Improvement Shows Success of New York's Hunter Education Program

The 2012 New York hunting season had the lowest number of hunting-related shooting incidents on record, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. As the tradition of hunting continues, with numerous and expanding opportunities for sportsmen and sportswomen to go afield, hunting in New York continues to be safely enjoyed.

"Governor Cuomo recognizes all the benefits the sporting community brings to New York's economy and commends sportsmen and women for setting a record in hunting safety," said Commissioner Martens. "The Governor and DEC are working to expand hunting opportunities in New York state and hunter safety is part and parcel to these efforts. These declining statistics prove that New York does have a safety-conscious generation of hunters, in great thanks to the committed efforts of more than 2,500 volunteer Sportsman Education Instructors."

DEC Environmental Conservation Officers conduct professional investigations of each hunting-related shooting incident. The 2012 season included 24 personal incidents with just over half being self-inflicted. Most unfortunate were two fatalities that occurred during the deer season where the individuals were shot by members of their own hunting group. Incidents involving two or more individuals stress the importance of one of hunting's basic tenets: identifying your target and what lies beyond. There were no hunting-related shooting incidents reported during the first youth hunt for deer that took place this past Columbus Day weekend.

Though the number of hunters is declining in the state, the hunting incident rate (incidents per 100,000 hunters) is falling much faster. Since the 1960s, the number of hunters has declined about 20 percent, while the incident rate has plunged more than 70 percent. The past five-year average is 5.3 incidents per 100,000 hunters, compared to 19 per 100,000 in the 1960s.

Trained instructors certified by DEC teach safe, responsible and ethical outdoors practices and the important role of hunters and trappers in conservation. New York has an extremely safety-conscious generation of hunters, thanks largely to more than 60 years of dedicated efforts of more than 2,500 volunteer Sportsman Education Instructors. All first-time hunters and bowhunters must successfully complete a hunter safety course and pass the final exam before being eligible to purchase a hunting license. All courses are offered free of charge.

While hunting is safer than ever, accidents happen and it is important to remember that every hunting related shooting incident is preventable. Many, if not all of these incidents could have been prevented, if only the shooter and/or victim had followed the primary rules of hunter safety.